In the Cold Light of Day

Rating:
Summary: More Fiction Than Truth
Review: First of all, I grew up in Columbus, Mississippi, and went to high school with Jon. Whether he actually committed this crime is still a subject for debate. I have never believed that the prosecution proved him guilty. As for the book, I am amazed that the author (an attorney, no less) would dare claim to know exactly what the defendant (or anyone else) was thinking. This is carrying the so called truth too far, in my opinion. To be honest, I read the book with great interest -- simply because I had fun trying to put it all back together in my mind. My sister, Nancy, read the book at the same time, and we enjoyed refreshing each other's memory -- via long distance. Not bad for a self-published book, but I agree, the editing was sloppy. I wonder what other "evil stories" lurk in the pages of Columbus history. Maybe Ann will find them! Be assured that Nancy and I will be first in line to buy the next book!

Rating:
Summary: Once I started the book I fell under its' spell.
Review: I felt myself time travel back to the early sixties. I felt as though I was a fly on the wall, an observation point of "insider" privilege, as the plot unfolded. It was as though the murder had taken place in my own childhood neighborhood in Arizona (only it took place in Mississippi) in a time when such things were far from common occurrences. The court room drama was told with uncommon clarity and the characters reminded me of some of my own relatives and neighbors, the author made them come to life with uncanny ability. I was thoroughly engrossed in the characters lives and in the murder trial and its aftermath. I would definitely suggest it to others as a great read! I look forward to another of Williams' books.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating thriller
Review: I loved "In the Cold Light of Day"! Although the author told us who the likely killer was in the first few pages, the suspense of the story kept me glued throughout the book. You worried about the accused getting away with it and the brave witness getting done in along with any number of possible twists and turns due to the uncertainty of the justice system at that time and in that location. It is chilling that this is a true story. This book haunted me for days....a mark of a really good story.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating thriller
Review: I loved "In the Cold Light of Day"! Although the author told us who the likely killer was in the first few pages, the suspense of the story kept me glued throughout the book. You worried about the accused getting away with it and the brave witness getting done in along with any number of possible twists and turns due to the uncertainty of the justice system at that time and in that location. It is chilling that this is a true story. This book haunted me for days....a mark of a really good story.

Rating:
Summary: ehh....
Review: I read this book as a sophomore in high school for a school project, and even then found it to be elementary in writing and in editing. I've lived most of my life about 30 minutes away from where this took place (although I was born way after the murder itself took place) and the only reason I found the book to be of any interest was because it talked about places and people that I could relate to...it wasn't in some town in New Mexico or Vermont that I had no idea about.
It's an interesting book if you are a crime buff who wants to hear about the mystery, but the person she basically plays juror and exocutioner for was never convicted - although thats not saying that he didn't do it. As a lawyer you would think she would not be quite so biased against him.
Read it if you'd like, but as I said, even as a fifteen year old I found it to be written on an elementary level.

Rating:
Summary: This is an outstanding true story of a sleeepy southern town
Review: I was brought up in this town in Mississppi and knew indivduals personally that this book is about, I attened and graduated from the the same high school as the author, sherriff, many of the attorneys and well as the person convicted of the slaying. It is very true and exacting story of a muder that took place in a sleepy little southern town. That will still bring questions to ones mind.

Rating:
Summary: AUTHOR RESPONDS
Review: It's interesting to me that two pro-killer reviews have popped up on the page . . . Leslie MSU is confused. He was indeed convicted of first degree murder. Not once, but twice convicted. Two trials.

If I were to update the book, many would be surprised at what I have learned since it was published. Former jurors, and friends close to the murder victim disclosed facts unknown previously. Was he guilty? Was he stalking her? Yes.

Ann Williams